It's all downhill from here.

Umm. So. You remember when I posted about Jack running away for half an hour and I had to run around trying to find him and I said that another cat started meowing at me an following me around? Well tonight I got home -- and it's been pouring rain all day and I hear a cat meowing. There's some feral cats around here but they don't usually meow -- so I remembered the little black kitten and figured it might be him.

Well, I felt bad -- like maybe he was hurt and that's why he was meowing -- and it's pouring rain and it has been all day. So I put up my groceries and went outside to find the poor thing. He came running to me and practically jumped in my arms where he started purring happily and rubbing his little head on me. Awwwwwwww. Poor thing! So I knocked on a few doors to ask if he was their's -- hes obviously a little social thing -- but they had never even seen him -- much less knew whos he was.

And um. Well...

He's... He's kinda in my bathroom with food and water and a bed and a little litter box.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

Update: Per request, here's a picture (excuse the fact that she's sitting on a toilet -- but she's temporarily taken up residence in the bathroom). I now present to you -- the ultimate Halloween decoration:

It's a little girl that hasn't been spayed. She weighs a little over 5 lbs, is super social, and already litter-box trained. She's got long black hair and a small patch of white on her little belly (which she loves to have rubbed, surprisingly) and killer bright green eyes. I've given her a quick flea/tick killer treatment, wiped her down and brushed her hair (she loved it). The name we're working with is Tabatha.

14 Comments:

Well, I just got a coupon for a free vet visit so I could use that for him. But so far all they do is growl at each other and me and Jack have our routine going! If they just got along great -- then sure I'd consider keeping it. But I made a commitment when I got Jack -- so if he's not happy with the other cat then I can't keep it. And me and Jack are getting along so well right now. I'm not sure I want to added responsibility and commitment.

You need to introduce him SLOWLY to Jack or Jack will have a fit no matter what you do. Leave him in your bathroom with his set up for a while. Like a week to two weeks so they can get used to each others smell under the door. Then when you are there to supervise let the kitty out. If all goes well feel free to leave him out for a while. If either kitty is hostile then try secluding the newcomer again for a week to two weeks. Depending on the cats it can take a lont time to acclimate a new cat to an existing cat. Don't let them play together until you get this new cat tested for diseases like FIV. I believe that one is only transmitted through saliva so if he can't bite Jack then Jack is fine. If you decide not to keep the new kitty then please take him to a shelter and not just put him back out. He sounds young so he will likely find a new home quickly as long as he is healthy.

One more thing, Not to alarm you or anything but no matter what you do DO NOT let that black kitten outside until a week or so after Halloween. This time of year people do sick and twisted things to black cats..

Michael just reminded me that there is a "shelter" here in Huntsville that never puts down an animal. I was going to adopt from there but had totally forgotten about it -- It's like a farm that functions as a shelter -- I remember reading about it -- they have a lot of pets with special needs that the owners couldn't take care of and they let them live their lives out on the farm if they aren't adopted. So little kitty will go there if he doesn't stay here or if I can't find him a home.

I was going to put up some flyers for "lost" cat -- but this poor guy is just skin and bones and this is at least the second time that he's been left to fend for himself -- IF he's ever indoors at all. He'd be better off at the ark then with who ever "keeps" him now.

When you put up the lost kitten fliers don't put a picture or description on them. Make whoever calls you describe him. Hopefully there is some sort of distinguishing charactoristic that an owner who may have lost him would be able to point out. Though if he's just skin and bones chances are nobody will care.

Hmm, I made the black cat / halloween connection, but I wouldn't have thought she'd be in any danger because of it. Then again I do live in an apartment where idiots feel free to bang on my window at 2AM in an attempt to scare Jack so hey -- you're probably right. Good thing she's camped out in my bathroom.

I feel horrible for having her shut up in a tiny room though. I couldn't sleep a wink last night -- literally not a wink -- because of anxiety and the whole time I was feeling bad about having taken her from roaming free to sleeping on a towel in my bathroom.

I'm leaning towards not keeping her, surprisingly. Jack is enough trouble -- and what if they didn't get along? It's hard enough to get someone to watch Jack for me -- or to drive him to Birmingham -- I can't imagine doing that with 2 cats. And I'd have to take her to the vet to get all her shots and to have her spayed -- and that just crys "expensive"

Man she's a sweetheart though. Just wants to petted -- activly petted. If you're not petting her enough, she has to get up and help. And she's going to be a GOURGEOUS cat. And she has white armpits -- how cute is that?

The hair on her chin seems to be very worn -- shes nearly bald around her mouth -- any ideas what's up with that? She doesn't have some weird disease does she? Is it just from being outdoors?

And I hate to say this -- but I'm not putting up lost flyers for her. She's not been spayed yet and she should be - and her poor bones are disgusting. If she DOES havea home, she deserves a better one. If I don't keep her, I'm taking her to the ark -- I'm sure that with as young and pretty and sweet as she is, someone will give her a good home.

She'll stay with me at least till Monday though while I decide for sure what to do with her.

I have 13 animals. You're not a crazy cat lady for bringing in your second cat who you may not even keep.Find out if the rescue adopts black cats out before Halloween. If they do then keep her until after then. I know it's a pain in the rear end but its better than worrying if some sicko adopted her just for her colour.

Is there another room you could keep her in besides your bathroom? I don't know how big your appartment is and I know Jack is used to being able to be in your room.. Do you have a spare bedroom of any sort?